F.A.Q

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Practice Locations and Logistics

Equipment Questions

Training and Practice Questions

Nutrition and Recovery/Rest

Race Questions

Registration, Purchase Merchandise, Accounting and Administrative

Website Account Help

General Questions

Practice Locations and Logistics


Mondays and Wednesdays:
Swim and run. Locations are subject to CUSD pool assignments for our club. We transition quickly for the run at the pool area (bathrooms are open). The run will take place at the same location.

Tuesdays and Thursdays:
In our Spring and Summer Cycling Program these days are used for additional cycling and skills based training specific to the more experienced youth and junior triathletes.  Athletes can participate in one or both days.  This training is limited to athletes riding a road bike and Lead Coach approval.  Additional training fee is required. See the website for more information about Spring/Summer Cycling Program.

Saturdays:
7:00am - 9:30am; Youth and Junior Elite Only.These triathletes are experienced with road riding and usually participate in the Winter, Spring and/or Summer Cycling Programs. Lead Coach approval is required.

10am-12:30pm:Swim and bike for this group.  Athletes will transition at the pool area and begin the bike ride from the parking area at the pool location.  Triathletes are grouped according to equipment, age and experience. Each group will have at least one coach and a parent volunteers. We encourage parents to ride but they MUST use a HELMET.

Note:  Please make sure that you bring your bike and all your equipment to practice on Saturdays.  You can leave your bike in the designated bike area while you swim.
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Equipment Questions

What equipment does my child need?
Triathlon training bag with multiple compartments for all your triathlon gear.  Bring your triathlon training bag to every practice.
Swim: Competitive swimsuit (one piece, girls – jammers, boys), goggles, swim cap (girls), towel
Run:Good running shoes, socks, running shorts, running singlet (iCAN running singlets can be purchased), avoid cotton, it doesn’t wick.

Bike: Helmet (ANSI approved), bike in good working condition (tires pumped prior to each practice) water bottle.  Fanny pack with tube, tire tool and CO2 cartridge (for road bikes).
Other:  2 water bottles (iCAN water bottles are available for purchase) – one with water and one with Electro Aloe (fluid replacement drink), healthy snacks, banana, figs, bagel, apple, and healthy energy bar.

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What happens if my child forgets their goggles?  
They cannot swim without goggles. But, they can rent a pair from our “goggle bag” for a $1.00 or they can purchase a pair for $5.00.  
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What happens if my child forgets their bike helmet?  
Athletes CANNOT ride without a helmet.  Parents CANNOT ride without a helmet.
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Do we need to purchase special “tri” clothes?
No, but we have awesome looking iCAN tri clothes and accessories that you can purchase.  Please check out merchandise on our website or talk with one of the staff members.
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I’m considering buying a new bike for my child.  Who can help me with that?
Please talk to Coach Todd before purchasing a bike or other equipment. He will discuss the best options for you and your athlete.
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Where can we purchase swimming, cycling and running equipment that isn’t available from iCAN?
Equipment Vendors
Swim - Swim Suits West, (559) 435-4898
Bike - Rubber Soul Bicycles, (559) 435-2453
Run - Sierra Running Company, (559) 433-6750
Note:  We have team/club discounts with all these vendors. You must present your iCAN Junior Triathlon Club membership card to receive the discount.  
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Training and Practice Questions


How does my pre-paid training card work for practices?
A pre-paid training card gives you the “pay-by-training session” option. The card must be punched by a staff member before each practice. We have a no-card, no-practice policy, so please make sure you bring your card with you for EVERY training session.  Look for Coach Joanna before practice and she will punch your card.
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If I have questions or concerns about my child’s training, who should I talk too?
Direct ALL questions or concerns regarding training, nutrition, injuries, equipment or additional athletic commitments your child has during the session to Coach Todd.  Any questions regarding additional training your child might be involved in should also be directed to Coach Todd.
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Can I stand next to my athletes swim lane?
NO, but you may stand well behind the coaches on the deck.  The deck is very busy and our coaches need to focus on the athletes in their specific lanes.  Our coaches will take very good care of your kids!
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What if I have questions?
We appreciate your questions but please wait until transition or after practice before you approach a coach regarding questions about your child.  Specific or technical training, racing, equipment or nutritional questions should be addressed to Coach Todd.
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Can I bike with my child on Saturday?
Yes and we encourage parents to bike with us.  You must have wear a HELMET.  
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Do I need to stay at practice with my athlete(s)?
No, it isn’t necessary to stay but you are always welcome.  It is very important to be there when we are finished.  Sometimes we run a little overtime depending upon the training for that particular day.  
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Do you offer any additional personalized training plans for triathletes?
Yes, we do offer personalized individual training plans for triathletes as well as any of the individual triathlon disciplines (swimming, cycling and running).  These are hourly or monthly fee based.
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If it’s raining, will practice be cancelled?
We will practice swimming as long as there isn’t any thunder or lightning present and Coach Todd considers it safe.  We will run in the rain.  We will only bike if Coach Todd considers it safe.  Call if you’re uncertain.  Contact Coach Todd or Coach Joanna during the specific training day for confirmation.
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Nutrition and Recovery/Rest


Why is this so important?
We will discuss training, nutritional and rest periodization in great detail with the triathletes.  We strongly encourage parents to pay attention to your child’s eating and sleeping behaviors. Please make sure your child gets plenty of rest and is encouraged to make healthy food choices.  This is very important as they will be burning lots of calories that need to be replenished with healthy food sources to provide optimal recovery and energy.  Along with the fuel is the need to rest and recover. It’s extremely important that your child eats a healthy breakfast (high in carbohydrates) each day and especially before Saturday’s practice.  Depending on body type and the amount of activity, an athlete should be eating 3 regular meals and 2 additional snacks each day. They should always bring water, fluid replacement (electrolytes) and healthy snacks to training.  Please see or contact Coach Todd if you have any questions.  
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What should my athlete eat before practice?
Your child should eat a healthy snack that provides a good source of carbohydrates (banana, figs, bagel with peanut butter, fruit, etc).  This should not replace a meal.  They should also bring a snack with them to each practice.  

Water:  Please have your athlete/s bring WATER to EVERY practice regardless of the weather and encourage them to drink water throughout the day.

Fluid replacement/electrolytes:  Your athlete/s should have some type of electrolyte drink in addition to water. We recommend Electro Aloe as a healthy electrolyte option.  You can order it online through our website. Go to “Merchandise”, drop down “Nutritional” or ask Coach Todd or Coach Joanna.

Snacks:  We encourage triathletes to bring easily digestible NUTRITIOUS snacks that can be ingested between swim/run and swim/bike training. (Banana, figs, bagel, sport energy bar, etc.).
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What should my athlete eat after practice?
Within 30 minutes after training your athlete should have a good source of carbohydrates with some protein. Chocolate milk (low or non-fat) is a good recovery drink. Breads, grains, beans, fruits, vegetables and dairy products (protein) are good sources of carbohydrates.  

Within 60 minutes after training your athlete should have a good source of protein (lean meat, dairy and soy products, nuts, vegetables and grains) and another serving of carbohydrates (turkey sandwich, PBJ sandwich, tofu, beans).
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Race Questions


How can I sign up for the races?
Visit our website and we have links to direct you to the specific race websites. We encourage you to look at the races now and sign up quickly.  They sell out fast!
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What and who is USAT?
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon - one of the fastest growing sports in the world. USAT sanctions 3,100 races and connects with more than 133,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games.USAT is the Federal Governing body for the Triathlon.
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What is the difference between a USAT sanctioned race and non-sanctioned race?
A USAT sanctioned race means that the race must follow the USAT competitive rules.  One important rule for racing is; USAT sanctioned race determines race age by the chronological age as of December 31st of the race year.  Example:  If you are 15 on race day but turn 16 by December 31, you must race as 16 year old.  A non-sanctioned race determines race age as of race day.
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Do I need to have a USAT membership?
Yes, you do.  iCAN Junior Triathlon Club is a USAT Certified Club. You must have a USAT membership for USAT sanctioned races or pay an additional fee $5.00 registration fee.  The USAT annual membership is $5.00 and there are numerous benefits. You can join through iCAN website by going to "Club" in the navigational bar and click on USAT Membership or go directly to www.usatriathlon.org/member-services.  
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Does my child have to compete in a triathlon as part of the team?
No.  Racing in the triathlons is a choice.  We encourage all our triathletes to race. They have trained and will be ready and very capable of completing the race.  We encourage you and your child to talk about it or talk with Coach Todd or Coach Joanna.  Racing gives the triathletes a tremendous sense of accomplishment when they complete a race.  Besides, they have a lot of fun!
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Registration, Purchase Merchandise, Accounting and Administrative


How do I create an iCAN membership?
click the “JOIN NOW” icon.  
  1. The club membership account should be established for each of your athlete/s. Use your email unless they have an email of their own.  Make sure that your athlete and you know the USERNAME and PASSWORD for the member account.  You can change your PASSWORD.  I like the athletes to have access to the website so they need to know the “MEMBER LOGIN” information so they can use the MEMBERS ONLY side of the website.  This is an interactive part of the website for the members only.
  2. This will take you to the USER ACCOUNT page.
  3. Click the “Create New Account” tab if it isn’t already highlighted.  Read the bullet instructions before proceeding.  If you are creating multiple accounts for new members you need to “Log Out” before you can create another account.    
  4. Complete the membership information and click, “Create New Account” at the bottom of the page.
  5. Complete the “Create Club Registration Form” page and click, “Add to Cart” or “Preview” to review.
  6. Complete the information in “Checkout” and click, “Review Order”.  We use PayPal if you are paying with a Credit Card.  You don’t have to be a member of PayPal to use PayPal.  If you are paying with a check your membership will not be active until the check is processed by iCAN accounting.  
  7. If you have any problems please contact us.  We need to hear from you!
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How do I login to my iCAN membership account?
Click “MEMBER LOGIN” in the navigation bar.  You must enter your USERNAME and PASSWORD.  You can edit your account information from this page once you login. You must be logged in to receive discounts on program registrations or merchandise purchases.
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How do I receive discounts if I have a club membership?
You must be logged into your membership account.
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How do I register for one of the programs?
There are multiple ways to register for any of the programs.  You can go to the “PROGRAM and EVENTS” tab in the navigation bar or you can go to “PROGRAMS” in the navigation bar and click on the links or you can go to the “Calendar” and find the event.  
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Can I register by mail?
Yes.  Go to “PROGRAM & EVENT REGISTRAION” in the navigation bar and click on the drop down, “REGISTER BY MAIL”.  Follow the instructions on this page.  
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How do I purchase merchandise?
You must be logged into your membership account if you want to receive your membership discount for any purchase.  Go to the navigation bar and click, “MERCHANDISE” which will display all the merchandise or you can click on of the drop-down menus for specific products.
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How do I pay for my program registration or merchandise?
If you are a club member make sure that you are logged into your account before you make any purchases or you will NOT receive the club membership discount.  After you have selected the program or merchandise that you want to order, you simply follow the “Check Out” instructions and pay for your order.  
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What is PayPal and do I have to have a PayPal account to use PayPal?
PayPal is the service that we use to process all member or non-member payments using credit cards.  You DON’T need a PayPal account to pay using PayPal.  
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Can I pay with a personal check?
Yes, you can pay with a personal check and either hand-deliver or mail the check to us.  You will see this option when you are in “Check out”.  Please note that your order will not be completed until the check is received by iCAN and processed by the accounting department.  
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What do I do if I have questions or problems using the website?
We NEED and MUST know if you have or are having any problems using the website.  This is the only way we can keep the website user friendly and working properly.  If you have problems or questions please send us an email at, info@icantriclub.com and also copy our webmaster, Jen Benavides at benavides.jen@gmail.com. Jennifer’s email link is also located at the bottom of the page.  
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Website Account Help

How do I renew my club membership?
Login to your account and view your profile. Your membership expiration information will be provided along with a link to renew your membership on the left side below the website logo.
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Why do I receive an access denied error when I want to register for membership using the "join now" button?
If you receive this message then you are already logged into an account. If you are trying to renew your membership, use the link provided for you in your club membership information. If you are trying to register for a separate account, please use the log out link provided in the menu under member login. Each membership must have a separate account.
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I am a club member, why can't I view the members only pages?
To view the members only pages you must be logged into your account which has an active membership. Use the member login link provided in the menu to log in and check your current account information and profile.
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I am a club member, why isn't my profile in the club members directory?
Please check your profile settings by editing your profile. Make sure to choose to include yourself in the directory.
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How can I send an email to another club member?
Look up the club member in the directory and view their profile. You will find a tab in their profile to contact them via email.
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Who can read my blog?
Blogs can only be viewed by other club members and website administrators. 
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How do I change my profile picture?
Log into your account and choose to edit your profile. Under picture, use the button to upload a new photo to replace the old photo.
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How can I reset my password?
If you have your username and email you can reset your password using the link provided in the menu under member login. You will be sent a link to reset your password. This link expires. You may use the contact form to inquire about your username .
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How can I find my username?
If you were a member prior to the launch of this website and account was made for you then your username is your firstnamelastname (is John Smith is johnsmith). If  your account was created when placing an order then your email address before the @ is your username (is username@email.com is username). Your username may be different if you made a special username during registration or accidentially created mulitple accounts.  You may use the contact form to inquire about your username.
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General Questions:


What can I do as a parent to help?
We love volunteers! We love for parents to help us during our bike or run training times. If you have skills in other areas and would like to volunteer those skills we would like to talk with you. If you have a business that can fill a need for our organization or would like to become a sponsor, please talk to anyone on our staff.
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Does iCAN Junior Triathlon Club offer other programs?  
Yes! We have a number of outstanding athletic and academic programs.  Please visit our website for a complete list and details of these unique programs that we offer.
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Do you train adults?
We are a youth club and focus on training youth between the ages of 7-19.  We will write training plans (fee-based) for adults that would like to retain our professional coaching services for individual training plans.  We also allow parents to join us for our coaches cycling training rides.